As the temperatures continue to drop, many of us will be cranking up the heat to keep warm and toasty this winter. But with the rising cost of living and energy bills, you’re probably wondering how many hours your heating should be left on in a day.
In addition, what is the most cost-effective way to run your heating without wasting energy? Luckily, we’ve got the experts at hand to answer your questions and help you achieve a warm home and save money.
So before you set your smart thermostat, here’s how long you should keep your heat on this season.
How many hours should you run your heating daily?
While our experts agree that the optimal heating duration is dependent on your specific needs and home insulation, a recommendation is to have it on for 4 to 8 hours during winter months.
“For most homes, keeping the heating on for around 4 to 8 hours a day is enough, especially if you’re only warming the space when people are home and active,” states Nick Barber, Co-Founder at Prepaid Electricity.
“The key is to heat your space efficiently, use a programmable or smart thermostat to turn the heat on just before you wake up or get home, and let it drop a few degrees while you’re sleeping or out. That way, you're not wasting energy heating an empty house.”
Of course, this will depend on your lifestyle, the size of your home, and the type of HVAC system.
What is the most cost-effective time to run your heating?
If (like me), you're tempted to run your heating for as long as possible to keep it toasty, consider a more cost-effective way of heating your home, while cutting down your energy bills.
“It’s usually cheaper to turn your heating on for short bursts, rather than keeping it on all day,” states Stephen Hankinson, Heating Expert at Electric Radiators Direct. “This is because you’ll be steadily losing energy throughout the day when the heating is on constantly, and never really benefit from the warmth due to it being at such a low level.”
So what are the best times to run our heating, without wasting energy? “In the mornings, I always recommend switching your heating on for a short burst when you wake up. This takes the edge off the chill as you get out of bed and sets your home up for the day without wasting energy by running it for too long. To make life easier, you can program your heating to switch on just before you wake up and then off again by the time you leave for work.
“In the evenings, the best time to put the heating on is usually between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m., when most people are back at home, and temperatures naturally start to fall. At night, it’s far more cost-effective to turn the heating off. A warm duvet or extra blanket is usually all you need to stay comfortable.”
What’s more, if you’re unsure of the ideal temperature your home needs to be, this is the temperature you should set your thermostat to in winter.
Top tips to keep your home warm in winter
Fortunately, there are other cost-effective ways to keep warm during those chilly days (without cranking up the thermostat).
Firstly, having one of the best smart thermostats will effectively heat your home and also save you cash on soaring energy bills. “Use a smart thermostat or other smart control device, schedule your house to pre-warm before the busiest times: in winter,” advises Victoria Garcia Massimo, HVAC expert at Airzone Control.
“The very early hours before people wake or mid-afternoon before people get home from work are both good time frames. If there’s a peak demand event due to a cold snap, the utility will send DR signals to your system so it automatically tapers off when electricity is most expensive.”
Another top tip is to ensure your home has proper insulation, so that you don’t lose heat through gaps. “Upgrade your home’s insulation and ensure weatherstripping is in good condition to reduce heat loss,” suggests Lisa Purvins, CFO & Vice President at Pro-Tech Heating & Cooling.
“Check your windows and doors for drafts and seal them with fresh weatherstripping material or caulk (where appropriate) and apply new material to reduce heat loss. Almost any homeowner can make this a DIY Saturday project, but if you’re unsure of what to do or how to do it, you can call an HVAC professional for help.”
Other tips include closing internal doors to contain the heat inside, placing draft stoppers at the bottom of doors so that heat doesn’t escape, and using insulated/thick curtains that can help to trap heat.
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